How to Refinish a Refrigerator Door

Over time, a refrigerator door may become marred by nicks and stains. While some people may opt to purchase a new appliance for aesthetic reasons, if your refrigerator runs effectively, you may wish to rejuvenate its appearance by adding a new finish. Whether the door is vinyl or metallic, it is not suited for new finishes. Before you apply anything, clean the appliance door, or finish failure may occur. Make sure you prepare each surface a certain way based on its composition, or the finish won't last.

Things You'll Need

Water-based degreasing cleanser

Coarse nylon pad

Shop rags

Towels

Palm sander

180-grit sandpaper

Mineral spirits

Professional painter's tape

Canvas drop cloth

Acrylic primer

Roller frame

Nap roller cover

4-inch polyester paintbrush

Appliance epoxy paint or acrylic enamel

Galvanized metal etching primer

Scrub the refrigerator door with a degreaser, using a nylon pad. Rinse the door with wet shop rags. Dry the appliance with towels.

Wipe the door with a shop rag dampened with mineral spirits. Wait 15 minutes for the spirits to evaporate.

Cover the refrigerator door handle with painter's tape. Slide a canvas drop cloth under the door.

Coat the vinyl refrigerator doors with acrylic primer, using a roller. Smooth the primed door, using a polyester brush. Act quickly before the primer base begins to dry. Let the appliance door dry for two hours.

Carry your painting tools to the bathtub. Wash them under the faucet.

Paint the refrigerator door as you primed it. Apply either appliance epoxy paint or acrylic enamel.

Tips & Warnings

Paint metal refrigerator doors as you would vinyl ones, except use a metal-etching primer instead of a latex one.

Don't prime refrigerator doors with a latex base. Instead, use an etching primer.

Smoothing the wet base and finish helps to remove roller marks. Unfortunately, the wrong brush will replace these flaws with brush strokes. Use a polyester brush for this type of project.